Gate-hinge



(N0 Model.)

H. EBERHARDT.

. GATE HINGE. l No. 406,412. Patented July 2, 1889.

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UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY EBERHARDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GILBERT & BENNETT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF GEORGETOWN, CONNECTICUT.

GATE-HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 406,412, dated July 2, 1889.

Application iled March 20, 1889.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY EBERHAEDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hinges which, while capable of a more general use, are especially adapted and intended for gates, and, while they may be applied to any kind of gate, they are especially suited for woven-wire gates and others having iron frames; and the objects ofmy improvements are to provide a hinge whereby the gate may be opened to either side and will close automatically by reason of its own gravity, and also to secure the gate against displacement by being lifted vertically by stock, duc. I attain these objects by certain peculiarities of the construction and arrangementof my hinge, as will be hereinafter particularly set forth and specifically claimed.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertainas to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure I is a front view of a gate and fencepost with my hinges in place, and shows the gate in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a front view of the post and an end view of the gate when opened. Fig. 3 is a front view of the post and a gate having a square bar or batten, and illustrates how the upper hinge may be applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my upper hinge, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lower hinge. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of upper hinge.

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A represents an ordinary fence-post of any desired form or material, to which a gate may be hung.

B is a gate, and C. is the vertical bar or stile thereof. This bar may be of any form and material; but I preferably make it of iron and cylindrical in shape, as this form is best adapted to my upper hinge, and as it is the form generally used as a frame for wire gates.

which is formed in two parts and provided with suitable holes a, through which the necessary screws or bolts a are passed to secure the plate D to the fence-post, as is seen. The plate D is provided on the side adjacent to the gate with a projection or arm E of suitable size and length, which arm extendsfrom the plate D at a right angle and has its end formed with a curve, as shown at b, thus' formin ga portion of the circular bearing for the bar C or rod or pintle c. On either side of this arm I preferably forma curved recess b' or depression for the reception and retention of the bent strap F. This recess or groove extends longitudinally with the' arm, and I prefer to form it the entire length of the same, and while I prefer the curved or semioircular groove I may use it of other forms or may dispense with it entirely. Horizontally through this arm, and at suitable distance from the plate D, I provide a suitable hole, through which is passed the pin or bolt b2, for iirmly securing the strap F to the arm E, as is shown in Fig. 1I. The strap F is formed of ono piece of metaly and bent, as shown, so that when placed in the grooves of the arm and secured thereto by bolt the circle or eye G is completed. It will be seen from Fig. 6 that I form the strap F with its inner side convex, which permits it to fit snugly in the concave groove b', thus preventing the strap from moving either up or down. This construction of the strap also lessens the amount of friction when engaged with the bar C or pintle c, as will be readily understood. Vhile I prefer this construction, it is obvious that I may use a fiat strap or other form.

The lower hinge, as seen in Fig. 5, is oomposed of two pieces, the plate H being provided near its center with lips or projections d d', between which the tongue c on plate I IOC is inserted and secured loosely by pintle e', passing through suitable holes in said tongue and lips or projections. Each of the plates vH and I is provided wih a s'ufcient number of suitable holes, through which are passed bolts or screws for securing them to the post and bar. The plate I is preferably formed, as shown, with a concave groove g on its side to iit the convex gate-bar; but I may dispense with this groove and form the plate with a flat surface, when desired to beapplied to a fiat gate-bar.

It will be seen and readily understood from Fig. l of the drawings that the axis of the upper hinge is at fand about four times a greater' distance from the fence-post than the axis of the lower hinge, which is at h, and also that the bar of the gate is the pintle for the upper hinge; while the lower one has a removable pintle e', and that the tongue e on plate I, being secured between the projections d d', prevents an upward displacement of the gate. IVhen the gate is opened, it will be vertically inclined, as shown in Fig. 2, thus giving it the tendencyby its own gravity to swing back in vertical alignment with the fencepost, as at Fig. l.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of applying my device to a gate having a square bar or hatten, and it is obvious that I may use other methods of adjusting the upper hinge to such a gate. i

It is evident that the distance of the axes of the upper and lower hinge from the fencepost may vary, and that no arbitrary proportion is required; but I have found that for ordinary yard gates the distance of the ccnter of the axis of the lower hinge from the post is about one-half an inch, while that of the upper one is about two inches. It is also obvious that by placing the lower hinge close tothe bottom of the bar C the bar will be kept a short distance from the post, thus preventing the post being marred by contact with the lower end of said bar.

In employing the above-described construction I am enabled to cast the parts of my hinge, if I so desire, thus making it inexpensive and yet strong and durable.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Leiters Patent, is-

1. A gate-hinge composed of the plate I), the projection E, formed with recess D and grooves b, and the bent strap F, secured to the arm or projection E, forming the eye G, substantially as set forth.

2. A gate-hinge composed of a plate D, the projection E, formed with a curved recess b and concave grooves b', and a bent strap F, having its inner surface convex and secured to the projection E,'for1ning the eye G, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of an upper hinge having a plate D, projection E, formed with a curved recess b, concave grooves h', a bent strap F, having its inner surface convex and secured to the projection E, forming the eye G, with a cylindrical bar or rod C, and a lower hinge attached to said bar, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and afixed my seal this 16th day of March, 1889.

HENRY EBERHARDT. [L s] PAUL DRENAUL, CHAs. F, CRANZ. 

